Service fittings



Nov. 24, 1910 c. T. FLACVHBARTH ETAL 3,542,940

SERVICE FITTINGS Filed Oct. 14, 1968 INVENTORS. CHARLES T. FLACHBARTH BYWILLIAM H. HARDING ATTORNEY.

United States Patent ()1 lice 3,542,940 SERVICE FITTINGS Charles T.Flachbarth and William H. Harding, Parkersburg, W. Va., assignors toTextron Inc., Providence,

R. a corporation of Delaware Filed Oct. 14, 1968, Ser. No. 767,161 Int.Cl. H02g 3/18 US. Cl. 174-48 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A poweror communication service fitting for use with electrical underfloordistribution systems comprising a tubular member for accommodating apower receptacle or a telephone Amphenol connector, the tubular memberbeing threaded into an insert and extending upright from the floor, capmeans closing the open end of the tube, including a disc and a ringholding down the disc, together with a decorative foot extendingoutwardly from the bottom of the tube in contact with the floor.

This invention relates to electrical underfloor distribution systems andin particular relates to improvements in service fittings to providepower and communication outlets for such system.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide an improved servicefitting which occupies minimum floor space area without compromising itsfunction of providing for a plurality of power or communication outlets.

Another object of the invention is to provide a service fitting whichoccupies a small fioor space area and which extends a minimum distanceabove the floor without compromising its function of providing power orcommunication outlets.

Another object of the invention is to provide a service fitting having aplurality of power receptacles each aligned on the fitting body withrespect to the threads connecting the fitting to the underfloor insertso that insertion or Withdrawal of the power jacks will not rotate thefitting.

Another object of the invention is to provide a service fitting adaptedas a telephone outlet yet extending only a short distance above thefloor surface by providing for the telephone or Amphenol connector to bedisposed partially within the insert and partially within the body ofthe fitting.

Another object of the invention is to provide a service fitting designto extend a minimum distance above the floor surface so as to present anobject which is substantially less hazardous than the usual conventionalfitting of comparable power and telephone capacity.

Another object of the invention is to provide a service having agenerally cylindrical shaped body and a sculptured top to make apleasing ornamental shape nicely compatible with modern office decor.

A preferred form of the invention will be described below in connectionwith the following drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the fitting of the invention inassembled condition and particularly illustrating the esthetic featuresof the design.

FIG. 2 is a sectional elevational view of the fitting of the inventionas mounted in an underfloor insert, the fitting shown being adaptablefor use in providing for a telephone connection.

FIG. 3 is an elevational view partially in section showing a fitting ofthe invention provided with a power receptacle.

As shown in FIG. 1, the fitting in general comprises tubular member 1,closure cap means 2 comprising a disc 3 and a hold-down or retainer ring4 and a foot 5 resting on the floor F. The foot 5 has a radiallyextending portion Patented Nov. 24, 1970 6 and an annular boss 7. Theportion 6 has internal threads 8. The disc 3 rests on the top edge ofthe member 1 and extends across the opening to close olf the same. Thetubular member 1 has the lower end threaded as indicated at 9 in FIG. 2.These threads are for mounting the fitting in the underfloor insert asindicated in FIG. 2 where it will be noted that the insert 10 hasinternal thread 11 accepting the threads 6 of the tubular member 1. Thethreads 11 mate with the internal threads 8 on the portion 6 of the foot5.

As mentioned heretofore, the fitting is adaptable both as a power andtelephone outlet. The structure is essentially the same except formodification in the body and the disc.

When the fitting is used for power, the body is provided with aplurality of openings each of which is adapted to receive a conventionalreceptacle as indicated at 12. Preferably, two or three receptacles areused and in the event of two receptacles, the body has two openings 180apart and with three receptacles, the body has three openings apart.

With reference to the receptacle 12 in FIG. 3, it will be observed thatthe same is symmetrical with respect to the axis A of the tubularmember. When a power jack is inserted or removed, the reaction goesthrough the axis so there is no tendency to rotate the fitting on thethreads 11. This is highly desirable inasmuch as it is a necessaryobjective that service fittings be set up so that they will not rotateeven with hard or sustained use.

The preferred receptacle is the type sold by Circle F ManufacturingCompany, of Trenton, N.J., Catalog No. 1536. This receptacle isconstructed so that it can be pushed into the opening in the body withthe head of the receptacle engaging the outside surface and spring clipson the inside of the receptacle snapping against the edge of the openingto hold the receptacle firmly in place.

When the fitting is used for a telephone outlet, the receptable openingson the tubular member are omitted. The disc is modified by beingprovided with an opening such as the opening 13 shown for the disc 14 inFIG. 2. The openings 13 has a grommet 15 to receive the cables from thetelephone or Amphenol connector inside of the tubular member.

With the present invention it is contemplated that the Amphenolconnector 'be disposed partially with the insert and partially with thetubular member. In this Way the distance by which the fitting projectsabove the floor F is held to absolute minimum and this squat height ishighly advantageous in that it presents a floor object which is ofminimum vertical dimension to present a less hazardous object topersonnel and to blend better with the surrounding media.

The disc 14 of FIG. 2 rests on the top edge of the body and extendsacross the opening to close off the same. The disc is held on thetubular member by the lip 16 of retainer ring 4.

As noted in FIG. 2, ring 4 has a second lip 17 which extends downwardlyover the outer surface of the body and covers a groove 20 on the tubularmember. A set screw 21 is threaded in the lip 17 and when tightened upprojects into the groove 20 to lock the ring 4 (and the disc) in place.

Preferably, grounding means are provided when the fitting is used as apower outlet. Thus, the tubular member has a tapped hole carrying aground screw 22 to which the outlet grounding wire can be attached.

The configuration of foot 5 has several important features. Not onlydoes the foot contribute to the overall decorative and ornamentaleffect, but in addition provides a lateral stability to the tubularmember by portion 6 by extending radially outwardly and bearing on thefloor covering. Furthermore, the foot covers up the irregular opening inthe floor covering which is necessary to accomof the threads 6. Thispermits a longer thread on the tubular member so as to compensate forvarying depths of concrete and floor covering. For example, in FIG. 2 itwill be noted that the portion 9a of the threads 9 is unused and thisunused portion is masked 011 by the boss 7.

Before closing, it is pointed out the combination of the foot 5 and thesculptured effect of the cap 2 taken in conjunction with the shape ofthe member 1 are design coordinated to provide a pleasing ornamentaleflect which blends well with contemporary ofiice decor.

What is claimed is:

1. A service fitting forelectrical underfloor systems comprising:

a tubular member formed with exterior screw threads adjacent one end andan exterior groove adjacent the opposite end, the threads being for usein securing the member to an underfloor insert with the axis of themember extending upright;

a disc engaging said opposite end of the tubular member, the discextending across the opening of the member to form a top cover;

a retainer ring mounted on said opposite end and formed with a lipportion extending down over the outer surface of the tubular member andover said groove and a second lip portion extending over said disc andretaining the same on the tubular member, the first lip having athreaded aperture in alignment with said groove;

a set screw threaded in said aperture and extending into said groove tothereby lock the ring on the tube and secure the disc in position; and

a foot ring threaded on the tubular member, the ring forming a radiallyextending foot for hearing on the floor on which the fitting is used.

2. A construction in accordance with claim 1 wherein said tubular memberis formed with at least one aperture for receiving a power receptacle. I

3. A construction in accordance with claim 1 wherein said tubular memberis dimensioned so that when the tubular member is in an insert, atelephone connector can extend partially within the insert and partiallywithin the tubular member and wherein said disc has an opening with agrommet for accommodating passage of connector wires out of the fitting.

, 4. A service fitting for electrical underfloor systems comprising:

a tubular member formed with exterior screw threads adjacent one end,the threads being for use in securing the member to ,an underfloorinsert with the axis of the member extending upright;

a disc engaging the end of the tubular member opposite said screwthread, the disc extending across the opening of the member to form atop cover;

cap means mounted on said opposite end, the cap being formed with afirst lip portion extending down over the outer surface of the tubularmember and a second lip portion extending over said disc to retain thesame on the tubular member;

mechanism on said first lip securing said cap means to said tubularmember; and

a ring surrounding the tubular member, the ring having a portion forminga radially extending foot for the bearing on the floor on which thefitting is used and having an upwardly extending, annular boss, saidportion having interior threads engaging said exterior threads on'saidtubular member and said boss concealing external threads on the tubularmember not in engagement with the said interior threads.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,815,741 7/ 1931 Richardson174-48 2,512,041 6/1950 Steele 138-89 X 2,813,143 11/1957 Weston 174--48X LEWIS H. MYERS, Primary Examiner D. A. TONE, Assistant Examiner US.Cl. X.R. 13 889; 2203.3

